The History of the Pomegranate Dates Back to Ancient Times

The history of the pomegranate is rather fascinating. One of the first
mentions of a pomegranate tree was in a Greek myth about Side, the wife
of Orion. The myth said that the very first pomegranate fruit tree grew
from Side’s blood being spilled onto the ground beneath the cliff she
jumped from…ending her life. She thought at the time she jumped that
she was responsible for killing her own children (which was actually a
lie). Since this time, the pomegranate has symbolized death and the
miracle of rebirth.

Where Did It Really Originate?

Many
written accounts refer to Persia (now known as Iran) as the first
country to cultivate and grow the pomegranate plants. If you were to
visit Iran, you’d see these fruit trees and bushes scattered in various
places over the landscape. You’d be able to tell where ancient
settlements used to be because of the thousands of pomegranate trees
still thriving and growing in and around these areas. Did you know that
scientists have been able to date some pomegranate plants and seeds
back to 1000 B.C.? Incredible!

Countries in the Middle East
cultivated pomegranate fruit trees several decades later. The countries
of Georgia and Armenia grew the trees for years before the seeds and
plants made their way to Spain and other Mediterranean countries. One
of the varieties of pomegranate tree is named after the city of Granada
in Spain! The pomegranate then made its way to China and eventually
North America.

More History of the Pomegranate Tidbits

A few other interesting historical facts about this amazing fruit:

Native to many countries, such as Albania and Turkey

Pomegranates are mentioned by Home in the Odyssey – the fruit was probably cultivated and grown in Sicily

The wild pomegranate dates back 4000 years according to some accounts

Some believe that the pomegranate was cultivated before the time of Moses (in Egypt)

Indian royalty used the pomegranate fruit in rituals and for banquets

It was brought to the America by the Spanish Conquistadors

By the year 1772, pomegranate, otherwise known as punica granatum pomegranate or seeded apple, was discovered growing in Georgia

Some history of the pomegranate writers say that the Tree of Life mentioned in the Bible was a pomegranate tree

Referred to as the “fruit of paradise” by traders of ancient days

Jewish Culture and Pomegranates

The
Jewish rituals of years ago included reverence and worship of
pomegranate fruit because of the fruit supposedly containing 365 seeds
(matching the days in a year). Robes of the Jewish priests were colored
using the dyes created from pomegranates. Bronze pomegranates are
mentioned in the Bible as decoration for King Solomon’s temple.

Jeremiah
52: 22-23 says, “The bronze capital on top of the one pillar was five
cubits high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze
all around. The other pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. There
were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of
pomegranates above the surrounding network was a hundred.” Even then
pomegranates must have been plentiful!

It’s important to note
that most likely much of the history of the pomegranate has been lost
over the last several thousand years. However, the bits and pieces we
do know about this amazing tree and the fruit it produces is quite a
rich and interesting history.